With more than 500 in attendance, the Ball once again welcomed an array of guests who provide valuable ongoing support to the Residence, many of whom were political, sports, media and entertainment figures. The opening performance by the “Queen of Blues” Dawn Tyler Watson set the tone for the lively evening. Special guests from the world of sports included Anthony Calvillo, Montreal Alouettes quarterback legend, inducted into Canadian Football Hall of Fame; and Otis Grant, former WBO Middleweight Champion of the World.

We had local federal, provincial and municipal politicians in attendance this year: local federal MPs Frank Baylis (Pierrefonds-Dollard) and Francis Scarpaleggia (Lac-Saint-Louis), provincial MNAs Monsef Derraji, Greg Kelley, Carlos Leitão and Kathleen Weil, along with and the mayors of Kirkland, Pointe-Claire, and the Montreal borough of Pierrefonds/Roxboro.

Major sponsors of the event included: Charles River, TASK, Pfizer Canada, and Merck Canada. The Air Canada Foundation and the Montreal Airport Marriott In-Terminal Hotel generously donated prizes that helped raise funds during the evening.

“I am deeply touched that the community has adopted the Residence as one of its own over the last twenty years and has been with us at every stage of growth,” said Teresa Dellar, Executive Director and Co-Founder, West Island Palliative Care Residence. “With all of our recent plans to transform the Residence, we have not lost sight of our main priority – taking care of our patients and families. All of the funds raised at the 20th Annual Valentine’s Ball will support daily, compassionate care.”